Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5899
2002-12-09 14:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

RSA AMBASSADOR SHEILA SISULU NAMED WFP DEPUTY

Tags:  EAID AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN 
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UNCLAS ROME 005899 

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH
STATE FOR U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05899 091632Z
USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
GAO FOR PTHOMAS
TOKYO FOR USAID REP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN
SUBJECT: RSA AMBASSADOR SHEILA SISULU NAMED WFP DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2003


UNCLAS ROME 005899

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER,
DCHA/D/FFP LANDIS, USAID/GLOBAL/HEALTH
STATE FOR U/S GROSSMAN, U/S LARSON, IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM
DEWEY, A/S AFR KANSTEINER, AFR/SA
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05899 091632Z
USDA/FAS PRETORIA FOR RHELM
NSC FOR JDWORKEN
GAO FOR PTHOMAS
TOKYO FOR USAID REP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN
SUBJECT: RSA AMBASSADOR SHEILA SISULU NAMED WFP DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2003



1. WFP HAS ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR SHEILA
SISULU AS DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AMBASSADOR SISULU WILL
ASSUME HER NEW DUTIES ON FEBRUARY 1, 2003.


2. A NATIONAL OF SOUTH AFRICA, AMBASSADOR SISULU BRINGS TO
WFP AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND AS AN EDUCATION REFORMER AND
ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST. OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, AMBASSADOR
SISULU HELD VARIOUS SENIOR POSITIONS AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN
COMMITTEE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. SHE HAS ALSO HELD POSITIONS
AS THE NATIONAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR AT THE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES COUNCIL AND AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL OF
CHURCHES. AT THE END OF APARTHEID, AMBASSADOR SISULU WAS
APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.
IN 1997 SHE WAS ASKED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SERVE AS CONSUL-
GENERAL AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSULATE IN NEW YORK. TWO
YEARS LATER SHE WAS APPOINTED AS SOUTH AFRICA'S AMBASSADOR
TO THE UNITED STATES AND PRESENTLY OCCUPIES THAT POST.


3. IN A RECENT EVENT IN WASHINGTON ON DECEMBER 2, MARKING
AIDS DAY 2002, AMBASSADOR SISULU, COMMENTED THAT THE DROUGHT
IN SOUTHERN AFRICA WAS "CONSPIRING WITH AIDS TO CREATE A
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05899 091632Z
DISASTER" IN HER COUNTRY. BY THAT SHE MEANT THAT "MORE WOMEN
ARE NOW INFECTED THAN MEN [WHICH] MEANS FOOD PRODUCTION IS
AFFECTED."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR SISULU, WFP REAFFIRMS
ITS COMMITMENT TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF FROM
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING AT THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE
LEVEL. AND AS WAR AND DROUGHT (PARTICULARLY IN SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA) CONTINUE TO DRASTICALLY RATCHET UP HUMANITARIAN FOOD
AID NEEDS, WFP ALSO SIGNALS ITS DESIRE TO HAVE A STRONG
ADVOCATE FOR AFRICA AT THE HIGHEST RUNG OF THE ORGANIZATION.
U.S. MISSION IS PLEASED WITH THE APPOINTMENT AND LOOKS
FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH AMBASSADOR SISULU. HALL

UNCLASSIFIED

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